Communications Manager

Are you a storyteller ready to shape the national narrative? Do you thrive on breaking news and want to use your skills to advocate for higher education and immigrant rights?

Do you enjoy working in a dynamic, collaborative organization and want to help make an impact on the lives of thousands of students and campuses nationwide?

Then, we want you on our team!

The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that brings college and university presidents and chancellors together on the immigration issues that impact higher education, our students, campuses, communities, and nation. Launched in late 2017, we equip higher education leaders, build sustainable partnerships, support undocumented, international and refugee students, and promote just, forward-looking immigration policies and practices at the federal level, in our states, and across our college campuses. We are the only national organization exclusively focused on the intersection of higher education and immigration. The Alliance comprises close to 600 public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over five million students in 42 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

Our work could not be any more important at this time, and we are seeking a strategic, capable, and compassionate communicator who can help us outreach and inform our partners, their students, policymakers, and community advocates in a multitude of ways.

Description

In collaboration with the Director of Development and Operations and other team members, the Communications Manager will lead and help execute the President's Alliance communications strategy, ensuring the organization's messaging is clear, consistent, and impactful across multiple platforms and across our two main websites: Presidents’ Alliance and the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. This individual will oversee and coordinate both internal and external communications efforts, working closely with teams (particularly our Policy and Campus Engagement/Portal teams) to plan and implement comprehensive comms strategies around reports and policy updates that include rapid response work, media outreach, press statements, and related social media to support immigrant, undocumented, refugee, and international students and to influence policy and practice at the federal, state, and campus levels. They will create a variety of products and materials that can include infographics, videos, and still images; create, edit, and streamline content, narratives, data analysis, and social media around policies and programs; manage our weekly member update; assist with webinars and in-person and virtual meetings; and support updates and analyze metrics on our home website, our Higher Ed Immigration Portal website, and other digital channels.

Key responsibilities include content creation, maintaining communications relationships with media and external partners and consultants, setting priorities across communications needs, overseeing communications across digital and print platforms, prioritizing competing needs and exercising sound editorial judgment, ensuring consistent branding and messaging across platforms and our two websites, and reviewing comms strategies during weekly meetings with the full staff. Experience in project management with multiple teams related specifically to communications is helpful.

This role is perfect for someone with vision and experience and has the potential for growth in a key role in a growing, mission-driven organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Internal and External Communications Management (25%): Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including staff leading content and policy areas, community partners, and external collaborators. Work with the Director of Development and Operations on project management that involves coordinating staff across teams to create marketing materials, fundraising campaigns, and donor communications that resonate with target audiences. Collaborate with the Director of the Higher Ed Immigration Portal to streamline branding and messaging across channels and support efforts to deepen and track the Portal’s engagement and reach, including new initiatives such as the Narratives in Motion Hub.
• Content Creation & Storytelling (25%): In coordination with relevant teams, support the planning and execution of a comprehensive digital and print communications strategy (utilizing press statements and releases, website, newsletters, social media, etc) to further the organization’s goals of advancing policy change, supporting impacted populations, and elevating the profile of the Presidents’ Alliance and its members. Draft and edit high-quality content, including press releases, op-eds, blog posts, toolkits, reports, and newsletters. Translate complex policy updates into accessible narratives for diverse audiences.
• Media Relations (20%): Maintain relationships with local, national, international, and higher education media outlets. Monitor news cycles to identify opportunities for rapid response and proactive pitching.
• Digital Management (20%): Manage the organization's digital footprint, including both the main PAHEI website and, in partnership with the Portal Director, the Higher Ed Immigration Portal site (WordPress), social media channels (LinkedIn, BlueSky, Instagram, YouTube), and communications support to elevate resources, tools, and updates. Monitor and analyze media coverage and reach of campaigns to assess effectiveness and adjust strategies as needed. Experience in video production, graphic design, and audio recordings, that could be a more featured aspect of this role for the right candidate.
• Editorial Oversight (10%): Serve as a "brand guardian," ensuring all external materials and across our platforms and sites are grammatically accurate, tonally consistent, and professional, and align with organizational messaging.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Experience: 3–5 years of experience in communications, public relations, journalism, or advocacy (preferably within higher education, immigration policy, or non-profit sectors). Relevant degree(s) in Communications, Political Communication, English, Journalism, Public Policy, Politics, or other related fields and experience as a prior student in or working with U.S. higher education is preferred (is important). We view lived experience as an asset.
• Writing Mastery: Exceptional writing and editing skills with the ability to adapt tone for different audiences that include university presidents and chancellors, mainstream and niche media, national partners, and students.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced, rapid-response environment using project management software, like Asana.
• Media Savvy: Experience working with reporters, managing media lists, and understanding how a newsroom works. Interest in keeping up with news related to federal policies across multiple sources.
• Digital Proficiency: Experience managing social media for an organization and using email marketing tools (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact) and CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress).
• Graphic Design: Experience with graphic design tools (Canva/Adobe Creative Cloud) or video editing software - or the interest and ability to learn quickly. Experience with or interest in basic photography/videography a bonus.

POSITION LOCATION & STRUCTURE

The salary for this position is $80,000, and is considered hybrid-remote for the DMV area. While the Presidents’ Alliance is a remote-first organization based in DC, DMV-based teams often come together in-person 2-4 times a month. The Communications Manager may expect to come in weekly to work with various teams and is welcome to come in more often to our McPherson Square office if they prefer.

This full-time position is structured as a staff employee of the Presidents’ Alliance, which honors work-life balance with generous paid time off annually. Our very attractive benefits package includes medical and dental insurance premium coverage; fully covered life and long-term disability insurance; availability of pre-tax FSA (health care and dependent care) accounts; and a 401(k) match. Additionally, we provide professional development opportunities and mentorship as needed or requested, a start-up laptop and office supplies package, and monthly tech reimbursement for all employees.

Our very attractive benefits package includes medical and dental insurance premium coverage; fully covered life and long-term disability insurance; availability of pre-tax FSA (health care and dependent care) accounts; and a 401(k) match. Additionally, we provide professional development opportunities and mentorship as needed or requested, a start-up laptop and office supplies package, and monthly tech reimbursement for all employees.